Brooklyn man sentenced to prison for trying to sell heroin in Watertown

A Brooklyn man was sentenced Tuesday in Jefferson County Court to three years in state prison for trying to sell heroin in Watertown.

Pierre L. Buggs, 29, also was ordered to undergo an additional three years of supervision after his release from prison after pleading guilty Feb. 19 to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. He admitted that on Aug. 19, with others, he tried to sell heroin. He was charged with selling the drug after police allegedly found 106 bags of heroin and about 3 grams of unpackaged heroin at a North Rutland Street apartment.

Mr. Buggs was sentenced as a second felony offender, having been convicted of second-degree attempted robbery in February 2005 in Kings County. He was sentenced to five years in prison in that matter.

In other court activity Tuesday:

Walter Wilcox, 59, Watertown, was sentenced to an unspecified amount of time served at the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building and three years probation after pleading guilty Jan. 31 to second-degree menacing and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He admitted that on Dec. 9 he placed Kenneth D. Pleasant, Watertown, in fear of being stabbed by threatening him with a kitchen knife. It was illegal for Mr. Wilcox to possess the weapon because he had been convicted previously of menacing.

Michael K. Saber, 26, Deferiet, was sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty Jan. 21 to attempted criminal possession of a firearm. He admitted that on Aug. 22 in the town of Wilna he possessed a 9 mm pistol without a permit.

Joshua J. Cole, 28, Theresa, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to work three weekends at the PSB after pleading guilty Jan. 24 to endangering the welfare of a child. He admitted that sometime in April he had inappropriate contact with a 7-year-old girl in the town of Theresa.

Bernard F. Plummer Jr., 37, Watertown, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny and second-degree identity theft. He was charged in September with taking the credit card of Carol and Robert Plummer, Watertown, and using it to spend more than $2,000, at times presenting himself as one of the two owners. He is expected to be sentenced May 6 to 1½ to 3 years in prison and be ordered to pay $3,194 in restitution.

Patrick G. Smith, 53, an inmate at Upstate Correctional Facility, Malone, pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted promotion of prison contraband. He admitted that he tried to possess a folded metal can lid Oct. 7 while incarcerated at Cape Vincent Correctional Facility. He is expected to be sentenced May 28 to an additional 1½ to 3 years in prison. He is serving an 8- to 16-year prison sentence imposed in 2003 in Nassau County for a robbery conviction, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision website.

Hector Rodriguez, 44, an inmate at Upstate Correctional Facility, pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted promotion of prison contraband. He admitted that he tried to possess 26 Suboxone painkillers on Aug. 9 at Cape Vincent Correctional Facility. He is expected to be sentenced May 28 to an additional 1½ to 3 years in prison. He is serving a 2- to 5-year prison sentence imposed in 2012 in New York City after a robbery conviction.

Tammy A. Thompson, 53, Watertown, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree attempted grand larceny. She admitted that between Sept. 1 and Oct. 15 she tried to steal property from her unidentified employer. She is expected to be sentenced May 30 to no worse than probation. She paid $2,481 in restitution up front.

Luke M. Shaughnessy, 35, Watertown, admitted violating terms of a conditional discharge and was resentenced to six months in the PSB. He was sentenced Sept. 24 to a three-year conditional discharge and ordered to complete the Bridge Program after an Aug. 8 guilty plea to felony driving while intoxicated. Information about how he violated the conditional discharge was not available from the court.

Patrick J. Burke, 38, Carthage, was arraigned on two counts each of fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The charges were contained in a grand jury indictment unsealed in court. It is alleged that he had and sold hydrocodone in mid-July and again in mid-September. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was sent to the PSB on $2,500 bail.

In court activity Monday:

Derrick L. Mack, 19, Watertown, was sentenced to a year in the PSB after pleading guilty Feb. 4 to third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance and trespassing. He admitted that he possessed heroin with the intent to sell the drug Sept. 5 in Watertown. He also admitted entering the apartment of a neighbor who was in jail without the neighbors permission the same day.

Linda L. Pitts, 44, Watertown, was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge and paid $1,335 in restitution after pleading guilty Feb. 4 to fourth-degree attempted grand larceny. She admitted that between Aug. 6, 2010, and May 31, 2011, she tried to obtain Department of Social Services benefits to which she was not entitled. Police said at the time of her arrest in January 2013 that she had claimed her 24-year-old son resided with her when he actually had moved out.

Joshua M. Medina, 23, Watertown, admitted violating probation and was resentenced to a year in the PSB. He was serving five years probation imposed in September after pleading guilty July 8 to fifth-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. He admitted that he tried to sell heroin within the county May 15. Information about what led to the probation violation was not available from the court.

Ronald H. McKenny, 28, a resident of Maryland, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. He admitted that he tried to sell cocaine April 18 in Watertown. He is expected to be sentenced May 6 to six months in the PSB and five years probation.

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